The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-01-20
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. O., Jan. Is, 1886.
The Farmers' National Congress in

VUh WASHlNUlUN LEIIERs
WASHINGTON, D. O., Jan. Is, 1886.
The Farmers National Congress in
session here the past week was largely
attended, and many subjects of import
ance were intelligently discussed and
with beneficial results. The principal
topics were the interstate commerce bill,
the bill establishing q department of
agriculture, the bill to extend the benefits
of the Signal Service to agriculture, and
the bill to establish agricultural expert
ment stations in the several States. One
whole day was occupied in discussing the
interstate commerce bill, a majority of
the members favoriug federal interfer-
ence, but the South and Northwest
differing widely on the provisions of the
bill-the former advocating more stringent
conditions than the latter. The farmers
handled the subject with skill and from
practical, business standpoint, while
the solons at the Capitol discussed it in
its various legal aspects, and finally
passed it by vote of 43 to 15. Another
good influence of the presence of so
many representative farmers at the seat
of national legislation was shown by the
passage in the House of Representatives
Hatch's bill to raise the Bureau Of Agri.
culture to the Importance of Cabinet
Office under the title of the Department
of Agriculture and Labor. 1t is to
be regretted that the Farmers Congress
could not remain in session long enough
to secure the passage of the bill in the
Senate at this session of Congress.
The Senate is considerably stirred up
just now over the changes that may take
place in its composition within the next
few days. At no time before has there
been such probability as at present of
so many Senators being succeeded by
men entirely strange to the halls of Con-
gress. Already Pennsylvania, MINES
sofa, Michigan, and Indiana have practi.
cally sent new men, ard it is regarded at
tho Capitol as more than probable that
changes will follow in Massachusetts,
New York, New Jersey, West Virginia,
and Nebraska. The defeat of VanWyck
in Nebraska will be looked upon as
triumph Of railroad monopolies: for no
man has more persistently fought that
class of monopolies in the Senate than
VanWyck. Politically he is not much
liked by his fellow Senators, because
they never know where TO place him-as
a Republican or Democrat. Oflate he
has been rather independent, and such
characters do not carry much weight in
the Senate-another instance OF which
may be found in Riddleberger, of Vir.
ginia. The rumor that Senator Brown
of Georgia, contemplates resig on:
account of bad health is not accepted as
entitled to credit. The Senator has been
troubled with a weakness of the throat
for some several years past, and it has
troubled him q little more than usual
this winter, but nothing serious is feared
from it. The Senator is now here and
is looking we'll, and shows as much capa-
city to dispose of work as at any time
since he has been ir the Senate, and that
is considerable. .e expects to make a
strong argument against the bill granting
suffrage to women, and consideration Of
that bill was deferred until the Senator
should arrive so as to afford him the op.
portunity. +
All important measures before Con-
gress are now being called up and dis.
posed of with as much dispatch as posi-.
bic consistent with fair investigation
into each measure. The House has just
passed the bill comforting jurisdiction
upon the Court Of Claims in all claims
against the Government of not mcr.
than six years standing, and not includ-
ing war claims. This bill will probably
pass the Senate, and Congress will then
be relieved of MACS of work that now
consumes valuable time with no benef-
cial results in very great majority of
the cases to either the claimant or the
Government, but loss to all parties
concerned,
Another bill considered was one to ex.
tend for one year the right Of action in
cases arising under the captured and
abandoned property act. Therei is hardly
possibility of this bill passing, bu: if it
shouldit will open up claims now barred
by the statute of limitations and amount.
ing to nearly s5,OO0,0OO. A great many
of these claims are just, and for property
captured by the Government during the
late war and not used but sold by the
Government, aud the proceeds turned
into the United States Treasury. The
United States Supreme Court has decided
that the money go turned into the Treos.
ury is held in trust by the Government
for the persons from the sale of whose
property it is the proceeds.
The Presidents reception to the Diplo.
MI